Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What type of murmur is characteristic of mitral regurgitation?

1. Systolic ejection

2. Pansystolic

3. Diastolic

4. Continuous

The correct answer is: Pansystolic

In mitral regurgitation, the murmur that is typically heard is a pansystolic (or holosystolic) murmur. This type of murmur occurs throughout the entire duration of systole, from the first heart sound to the second heart sound. Mitral regurgitation leads to the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole due to the improper closure of the mitral valve. As a result, the turbulent flow of blood creates a distinctive sound that persists throughout systole, which is characteristic of a pansystolic murmur. The other types of murmurs mentioned have different timing and are associated with various pathological states. Systolic ejection murmurs occur during early to mid-systole and are typically associated with conditions like aortic stenosis. Diastolic murmurs occur when blood flows from the atrium into the ventricle during diastole, often seen in aortic regurgitation or mitral stenosis, while continuous murmurs, which occur in both systolic and diastolic phases, are seen in conditions such as a patent ductus arteriosus. Therefore, the recognition of the specific characteristics of each type of murmur is